Jan
21
2010
Questions and Controversies
Author: DiaJust a quick ping to let you know I’ve added a Frequently Asked Questions page to the site. So hopefully I will never have to answer certain questions ever again. :p
Also, there’s yet another blurb for Bleeding Violet. A librarian I know who subscribes to the Simon Pulse newsletter (or maybe it was Simon & Schuster?) pointed it out to me:
Just like the chick on the cover, you’ll find yourself wrapped up in this twisted and fascinating story about a crazy girl who finds herself in an even crazier town. Word to the wise: this isn’t your average paranormal story that you’ve read time and again.
If you’re looking for a cutesy protagonist, Hanna is not your girl. She is plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses. If you’re looking for bloodsuckers in the suburbs, instead you’ll find an odd East Texas town with flesh-eating creatures, parasitical spirits, and doors that lead out of this world.
But if you’re looking for a romance, you’ve come to the right place. No, not another corny love story, but one that is honest and fitting in the non-fairy tale sort of way. But don’t say I didn’t warn you . . . Love can be a dangerous thing.
I really like this blurb. I like the way it attempts to weed out the non-weirdos so that they don’t get their minds blown. xD
In other news, I’m sure everyone’s heard about how Bloomsbury put a white girl on the cover of Magic Under Glass even though the main character, Nimira, isn’t white. Bloomsbury did something similar with the book Liar, but I think that since Nimira isn’t black, they figured no one would notice or cause the same kind of fuss over a brown girl. Turns out, brown girls kinda want to see themselves represented on covers just as much as black girls do. Strange how that works, isn’t it?
Anyway, if you want to show support for Jackie Dolamore (the author of Magic Under Glass and the innocent party in all of this), go to this site http://petol.org/bc4all and sign the petition. Also, feel free to write something really scathingly brilliant to Bloomsbury about how completely uncool it is to whitewash covers in the 21st century.
Bloomsbury USA 175 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10010 Phone: 646-307-5151 Fax: 212-780-0115 bloomsbury.kids@bloomsburyusa.com children.publicity@bloomsburyusa.com
Okay nevermind. xD Controversy has ended. Bloomsbury is changing the cover. http://bit.ly/8Snbd3 I’m gonna leave the contact info up though, just in case Bloomsbury decides to go for a hat-trick.
January 21st, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Good news! Bloomsbury are changing the cover, seems like they have taken notice to the many bloggers who have voiced their opinions
and YAY FAQ galore and that blurb is fab!!
Cheerio
UK Rebel
January 21st, 2010 at 1:29 pm
You know, I think it was my post that pushed them over the edge. xD
January 21st, 2010 at 5:07 pm
I’m so glad they decided to change the cover, and hopefully the white-washing is over, for good. I can’t wait to see her new cover!
January 21st, 2010 at 5:54 pm
GO BROWN GIRLS ! HA! (not that I’m one of them. Grin) Okay I admit it. I guess I’m.
It’s really stupid they did that X2. I work for a publisher, and we are all for showing the real deal. But hey we are little guys in this BIG world of publishing.
I’M SO GLAD the tables had turn and adjusted to let out the real deal. Dia I’m sure you had a lot to do with it. =) When i filled up the form I wrote “GET NEW MARKETING PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY READS YOUR BOOKS”
I loved the publishers I’ll quote” The jacket design has caused offense and we apologize for our mistake. Copies of the book with a new jacket design will be available shortly.” Sounds like Pointing fingers to the design instead of the actual racial switch. Ha. They should give everybody that already has the book a free complementary copy for sucking so badly with the poor portraying of the character. In another note if anybody was wondering… Designers do get to read the book. So I’m guessing it was a “LAMEMISH” marketing move from the publisher. This is the second time it happens and I wonder if you can make such a ethnic mistake more than once, and have credibility as a publisher. I feel terrible for the author. She is freaking awesome, and at the end of the day what matters is the writing within.
Okay enough ranting… Go Brown. I’m out!
January 24th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Thanks Kay for that info on how desginers do get to read the book.
Dia your post totally helped! I wish they would go for a hat-trick *rolls eyes*, I would have to lead a protest march on Bloomsbury. lol I like the sarcastic tone of your post, what an idea that a brown kid wants to see themselves on TV and in books? huh.
Awesome blurb and I agree it’s a warning that should help people know what they are getting into. When I read the book I’ll have a discalimer of some kind